Garment hangar system

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a system for hanging garments. In one embodiment the system comprises first and second bracket members. The system further comprises a mounting member comprising a first end portion engaged with the first bracket member and a second end portion engaged with the second bracket member. The mounting member further comprises first and second outside surfaces and an upper surface. The first outside surface is substantially parallel to the second outside surface. Each of the first and second outside surfaces are perpendicular to the upper surface. The system further comprises a hangar member comprising a body portion adapted to receive the garment and an engagement portion adapted to engage with the mounting member. The engagement portion comprises an open engagement portion defined by first and second inside surfaces and an upper surface. The first inside surface is substantially parallel to the second inside surface. Each of the first and second inside surfaces are substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the engagement portion. Upon engagement of the hangar member with the mounting member, the upper surface of the engagement portion of the hangar member is engaged with the upper surface of the mounting member, and the first and second inside surfaces of the engagement portion of the hangar member are adjacent the first and second outside surfaces of the mounting member, respectively, thereby preventing the hangar member from substantial swinging inward and/or outward relative to the mounting member which reduces the tendency of a garment to slide or otherwise move relative to the hangar and entanglement with adjacent hangar members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] A variety of garment hanging systems have been developed thatallow a person to hang garments, such as pants and shirts on a supportmember. For example, a well known and widely used system includes of ahangar that can be engaged with a wooden pole mounted within a closet.By way of further example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,302,800 discloses a hangarengageable with a hangar bar. Such conventional devices have severaldraw backs. By way of example only, such conventional systems allow thehangars to swing inward and outward relative to the hangar bar or woodenpole thereby causing garments such as pants to slide and becomewrinkled, and adjacent hangars to become entangled during use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is a system for hanging garments. In oneembodiment, the system comprises first and second bracket members. Thesystem further comprises a mounting member comprising a first endportion engaged with the first bracket member and a second end portionengaged with the second bracket member. The mounting member furthercomprises first and second outside surfaces and an upper surface. Thefirst outside surface is substantially parallel to the second outsidesurface. Each of the first and second outside surfaces are perpendicularto the upper surface. The system further comprises a hangar membercomprising a body portion adapted to receive the garment and anengagement portion adapted to engage with the mounting member. Theengagement portion comprises an open engagement portion defined by firstand second inside surfaces and an upper surface. The first insidesurface is substantially parallel to the second inside surface. Each ofthe first and second inside surfaces are substantially perpendicular tothe upper surface of the engagement portion. Upon engagement of thehangar member with the mounting member, the upper surface of theengagement portion of the hangar member is engaged with the uppersurface of the mounting member, and the first and second inside surfacesof the engagement portion of the hangar member are adjacent to the firstand second outside surfaces of the mounting member, respectively,thereby preventing the hangar member from substantial swinging inwardand/or outward relative to the mounting member which reduces thetendency of a garment to slide or otherwise move relative to the hangarand become wrinkled, and entanglement with adjacent hangar members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] The following detailed description of the invention will be morefully understood with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0004]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the present inventionshowing a square shaped engagement portion of a hangar member mounted toa square shaped mounting member supported by mounting brackets;

[0005]FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the square shaped mountingmember;

[0006]FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the hangar member;

[0007]FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the square ororthogonally shaped engagement portion of the hangar member engaged withthe square or non-orthogonally shaped mounting member;

[0008]FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing an obtuse shapedengagement portion of the hangar member engaged with an obtuse shapedmounting member;

[0009]FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing a triangular shapedengagement portion of the hangar member engaged with a triangular shapedmounting member; and

[0010]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of theinvention showing a square shaped engagement portion of a hangar membermounted about a square shaped series of open vinyl coated wires.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the system 10 of the present inventiongenerally comprises a plurality of hangar members 14 engageable with amounting member 12 such that the hangar members 14 are substantially, ifnot completely, prevented from swinging inward and outward from thelongitudinal axis of the mounting member 12. The system 10 furthercomprises first and second bracket members 24 and 25 (only one is shown)adapted to support and mount the mounting member 12 to a surface such asa closet wall (not shown).

[0012] The first and second bracket members 24 and 25 each comprise abase portion 27 having a plurality of thru-holes or openings 26. Theopenings 26 are adapted to receive a conventional fastener such as ascrew (not shown) to secure each base portion 27 to the closet wall (notshown). Each of the first and second bracket members 24 and 25 furthercomprise an engagement portion 20 which in the embodiment shown is asquare shaped cavity 22 having sidewalls 23.

[0013] The mounting member 12 comprises a first end portion 16 engagedwith the engagement portion 20 of the first bracket member 24 and asecond end portion 18 engaged with the engagement portion 20 of thesecond bracket member 25 (not shown).

[0014] The mounting member 12 further comprises first and second outsidesurfaces 40 and 44, an upper surface 42, and a lower surface 48. Thefirst outside surface 40 is substantially parallel to the second outsidesurface 44. Each of the first and second outside surfaces 40 and 44 areperpendicular to the upper surface 42. In the embodiment shown, themounting member 12 is square shaped.

[0015] The hangar member 14 comprises a body portion 28 adapted toreceive the garment (not shown) and an engagement portion 30 adapted toengage with the mounting member 12. The engagement portion 30 comprisesan open engagement portion 32 defined by first and second insidesurfaces 34 and 36, and an upper surface 38. The first inside surface 34is substantially parallel to the second inside surface 36. Each of thefirst and second inside surfaces 34 and 36 are substantiallyperpendicular to the upper surface 38 of the engagement portion 30. Inthe embodiment shown, the open engagement portion 32 is square shaped.

[0016] Upon engagement of the hangar member 14 with the mounting member12, the upper surface 38 of the engagement portion 30 of the hangarmember 14 is engaged with the upper surface 42 of the mounting member12, and the first and second inside surfaces 34 and 36 of the engagementportion 30 of the hangar member 14 are adjacent to the first and secondoutside surfaces 44 and 40 of the mounting member 12, respectively,thereby preventing the hangar member 14 from substantial swinging inwardand/or outward relative to the mounting member 12 which reduces thetendency of a garment to slide or otherwise move relative to the hangarmember 14 and become wrinkled, and entanglement with adjacent hangarmembers 14.

[0017] The mounting member 12 may further comprises a plurality ofindentations or channels 46 continuously spaced along a portion orsubstantially the entire length of the mounting member 12. The channels46 are adapted to engage with the upper surface 38 of the engagementportion 30 of the hangar member 14 to prevent lateral or side-to-sidemovement of the hangar member 14 along the mounting member 12 andentanglement with adjacent hangar members 14.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 5, wherein another embodiment of the invention,the system 10 may comprise an obtuse shaped engagement portion 30 of thehangar member 14 engaged with an obtuse shaped mounting member 12. Theengagement portion 30 comprises an open engagement portion 32 defined byfirst and second inside surfaces 58 and 60, and an upper surface 62.Each of the first and second inside surfaces 58 and 60 are obtuse to theupper surface 38 of the engagement portion 30. In the embodiment shown,the open engagement portion 32 is obtuse shaped. The mounting member 12comprises first and second outside surfaces 50 and 54, an upper surface52, and a lower surface 56. Each of the first and second outsidesurfaces 50 and 54 are obtuse to the upper surface 52. In the embodimentshown, the mounting member 12 is obtuse shaped. Upon engagement of thehangar member 14 with the mounting member 12, the upper surface 62 ofthe engagement portion 30 of the hangar member 14 is engaged with theupper surface 52 of the mounting member 12, and the first and secondinside surfaces 58 and 60 of the engagement portion 30 of the hangarmember 14 are adjacent to and engaged with the first and second outsidesurfaces 54 and 50 of the mounting member 12, respectively, therebypreventing the hangar member 14 from substantial swinging inward and/oroutward relative to the mounting member 12 and entanglement withadjacent hangar members 14.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 6, wherein another embodiment of the invention,the system 10 may comprise a triangular shaped engagement portion 30 ofthe hangar member 14 engaged with a triangular shaped mounting member12. The engagement portion 30 comprises an open engagement portion 32defined by first and second inside surfaces 72 and 74, and an apexportion 76. Each of the first and second inside surfaces 72 and 74 areobtuse to the apex portion 76. In the embodiment shown, the openengagement portion 32 is triangular shaped. The mounting member 12comprises first and second outside surfaces 64 and 66, an upper apexportion 67, and a lower surface 68. Each of the first and second outsidesurfaces 64 and 66 are obtuse to the apex portion 67. In the embodimentshown, the mounting member 12 is triangular shaped. Upon engagement ofthe hangar member 14 with the mounting member 12, the apex portion 76 ofthe engagement portion 30 of the hangar member 14 is engaged with theapex portion 67 of the mounting member 12, and the first and secondinside surfaces 72 and 74 of the engagement portion 30 of the hangarmember 14 are adjacent to and engaged with the first and second outsidesurfaces 66 and 64 of the mounting member 12, respectively, therebypreventing the hangar member 14 from substantial swinging inward and/oroutward relative to the mounting member 12 and entanglement withadjacent hangar members 14.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 7, wherein another embodiment of the inventionthe system 10, the quare shaped engagement portion of the hangar member14 is mounted about the mounting member 12 and the first and secondoutside surfaces 40 and 44, upper surface 42, and lower surface 48 aredefined by a plurality of vinyl coated wires.

[0021] The first and second bracket members 24 and 25 should be designedto safely withstand the structural load due to the weight of thegarments on the mounting member 12. The first and second bracket members24 and 25 may be made from a variety of materials such as steel,aluminum or plastic and formed by conventional casting, molding and/ormachining processes. The mounting pole 12 should be designed to safelywithstand the structural load due to the weight of the garments. Themounting pole 12 may be made from a variety of materials such as wood,aluminum or plastic and formed by conventional extrusion, molding and/ormachining processes. The hangar member 14 should be designed to safelywithstand the weight of a garment without any substantial twistingand/or deformation. The hangar member 14 may be made from a variety ofmaterials such as plastic and formed by conventional molding and/ormachining processes.

[0022] The foregoing description is intended primarily for purposes ofillustration. This invention may be embodied in other forms or carriedout in other ways without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention. Modifications and variations still falling within the spiritor the scope of the invention will be readily apparent to those of skillin the art.

What is claimed:
 1. A system for hanging garments comprising: (a) afirst and second bracket members; (b) a mounting member comprising afirst end portion engaged with said first bracket member and a secondend portion engaged with said second bracket member, said mountingmember comprising first and second outside surfaces and an uppersurface; said first outside surface is substantially parallel to saidsecond outside surface; each of said first and second outside surfacesare perpendicular to said upper surface; (c) a hangar member comprisinga body portion adapted to receive the garment and an engagement portionadapted to engage with said mounting member, said engagement portioncomprises an open engagement portion defined by first and second insidesurfaces and an upper surface; said first inside surface issubstantially parallel to said second inside surface; each of said firstand second inside surfaces are substantially perpendicular to said uppersurface of said engagement portion; and (d) whereby upon engagement ofsaid hangar member with said mounting member said upper surface of saidengagement portion of said hangar member is engaged with said uppersurface of said mounting member and said first and second insidesurfaces of said engagement portion of said hangar member are adjacentsaid first and second outside surfaces of said mounting member,respectively, thereby preventing said hangar member from substantialswinging relative to said mounting member.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein said first inside surface of said engagement portion of saidhangar member is spaced from said second inside surface of saidengagement portion.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein said upper surfaceof said engagement portion of said hangar member is disposed at theuppermost portion of said first and second inside surfaces of saidengagement portion.
 4. The system of claim 4, wherein said mountingmember further comprises a plurality of recess portions disposed alongsaid upper surface.
 5. The system of claim 5, wherein said recessesportions are substantially perpendicular to said mounting member.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein said first and second outside surfaces andsaid upper surface of said mounting member comprise a substantiallysolid material.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and secondoutside surfaces and said upper surface of said mounting member compriseand are defined by a plurality of wire rods.
 8. The system of claim 6,wherein said mounting member is made from steel.
 9. A hangar for use inhanging a garment on a mounting member, the hangar comprising: a bodyportion adapted to receive the garment and an engagement portion adaptedto engage with the mounting member; said engagement portion comprises anopen engagement portion defined by first and second inside surfaces andan upper surface; said first inside surface is substantially parallel tosaid second inside surface; each of said first and second insidesurfaces are substantially perpendicular to said upper surface of saidengagement portion.
 10. The hangar of claim 6, wherein said first insidesurface is spaced from said second inside surface and said upper surfaceis disposed at the uppermost portion of said first and second insidesurfaces of said engagement portion.